I know the feeling. In canada we have the same problem but nearly as bad as you guys. When the CAD was higher then the USD we were still paying more.
At least you get the warranty for free.

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Actually - Canadian prices are same as the US prices. Check the stores. Part of the problem we had was the Canadian dollar was bouncing up and down from one month to the next, while Apple tries to keep the prices stable. Apple rarely (if ever) changes its prices once they are set, until the next model is introduced. This means that the prices are set to take in account Apple's prediction for the exchange rate for the next 12 to 18 months.... sometimes they get it wrong.

This is a common complaint... several threads already. And the consensus tends to be that the UK prices include VAT and customs duty, and the US prices don't. Plus, US products come with just a 1 year warranty, while UK products come with an enhanced warranty (which can be worth several hundred dollars - plus the VAT).

Plus... Apple, like most other companies, price their goods based on what they think the market will bear. Wealthier markets pay more than less wealthy markets.... think about that for a moment, and then feel a big smug. We Canadians have been told that we are now only just as wealthy as our southern cousins. Which is a bit worrying, personally...

Think, McFly, Think ... how do you think Apple got its $120 billion cash hoard? All these warm fuzzy feelings we feel towards Apple are a result of their marketing tactics, but inside they're finding new ways to do you in.

The $3,649 US price does not include sales tax, which is probably around 8% (unless you're lucky enough to live in one of 2 states IIRC that doesn't charge sales tax). So that brings the price up to $3,940.

So while it is more expensive in the UK, in reality, it's $123 more, not $1,151. Blame the UK for the higher tax rate, but enjoy your universal healthcare and extensive public transportation

Actually - Canadian prices are same as the US prices. Check the stores. Part of the problem we had was the Canadian dollar was bouncing up and down from one month to the next, while Apple tries to keep the prices stable. Apple rarely (if ever) changes its prices once they are set, until the next model is introduced. This means that the prices are set to take in account Apple's prediction for the exchange rate for the next 12 to 18 months.... sometimes they get it wrong.

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Ah, so thats why Apple charges $1.29 for a $1 app on the nz app store when the exchange rate has been around 20 to 23 percent for a long time now. Dammit.

Correct me if I am wrong but don't products need to last 3 years or something along those lines. In most other places we have to spend 200 dollars on applecare.

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We get full warranty for a year then limited warranty for 2, hence most here still buy applecare.

We've also got some rules here that certain items over a certain cost have to provide a reasonable lifespan, which i think is 3 years here.

The other thing we get is the option to declare a lemon, so if something goes wrong and is fixed under warranty 3 times or more, you can declare a lemon. I bought a macbook pro in 2002, the 1.44 ghz 1 gb ram ppc, screen went wrong and repaired 3 times, so I declared it a lemon, then apple had to give me an up to date equivalent, so I got a 1.67ghz 2gb ram PPC model.

We've also got distance selling, and contract cool off

Distance selling - As long as you dont open it you can return it in seven days - applies to mail order.

Cool off - you can cancel any contract you sign up to within seven days free of charge.

Most people in the UK aren't aware of all this, apple tried their damndest to get out of it, I came across this with some monster headphones I bought from an apple store, they stopped working after 43 days, and the apple policy was not to accept returned non-apple stuff after 30 days and refused to refund them (they were the third pair I had, so it was clear they were just a rubbish model). I ended up having to take all the legal stuff off the government website into the shop to show them they were wrong, and was told they'd do it as a "one off".

Blame the UK for the higher tax rate, but enjoy your universal healthcare and extensive public transportation

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And remember this, OP. When Americans buy smartphones on two year contracts they still have to pay $200 for the phone and pay $50 a month just for a decent data plan which still won't be unlimited, and then pay even more for calls and texts, and then pay even more purely because they own a smartphone. I **** you not.

We on the other hand get most smartphones for free and can get unlimited data along with thousands of calls and texts for a mere £25 a month

And remember this, OP. When Americans buy smartphones on two year contracts they still have to pay $200 for the phone and pay $50 a month just for a decent data plan which still won't be unlimited, and then pay even more for calls and texts, and then pay even more purely because they own a smartphone. I **** you not.

We on the other hand get most smartphones for free and can get unlimited data along with thousands of calls and texts for a mere £25 a month

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Not 100% accurate, AFAIK, no data plan on any of the major carriers exceeds $30, and other than the data plan, there's no additional required charge just for having a smart phone. But the monthly charge is still higher than the UK.

Not 100% accurate, AFAIK, no data plan on any of the major carriers exceeds $30, and other than the data plan, there's no additional required charge just for having a smart phone. But the monthly charge is still higher than the UK.

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AFAIK, on Verizon you have to buy a more expensive plan just for using a smartphone and their data plans actually seem to start at $60 for 2GB

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